The spirit is wanting in that resplendent form: go, seek that jewel rarely found!
جان کم است آن صورت با تاب را ** رو بجو آن گوهر کمیاب را
The heads of all the lions in the world were laid low when They (God) gave a hand to (bestowed favour on) the dog of the Companions (of the Cave).
شد سر شیران عالم جمله پست ** چون سگ اصحاب را دادند دست
What loss does it suffer from that abhorred shape, inasmuch as its spirit was plunged in the ocean of light?
چه زیان استش از آن نقش نفور ** چون که جانش غرق شد در بحر نور
’Tis not in pens to describe (the outward) form: (what is written) in letters is (qualities like) “learned” and “just”;
وصف صورت نیست اندر خامهها ** عالم و عادل بود در نامهها
(And qualities like) “learned” and “just” are only the spiritual essence which thou wilt not find in (any) place or in front or behind.1025
عالم و عادل همه معنی است بس ** کش نیابی در مکان و پیش و پس
The sun of the spirit strikes (with its beams) on the body from the quarter where (the relation of) place does not exist: it (that sun) is not contained in the sky.
میزند بر تن ز سوی لامکان ** مینگنجد در فلک خورشید جان
An account of the knowledge of the hare and an explanation of the excellence and advantages of knowledge.
ذکر دانش خرگوش و بیان فضیلت و منافع دانستن
This topic hath no end. Give heed! Attend to the story of the hare.
این سخن پایان ندارد هوش دار ** گوش سوی قصهی خرگوش دار
Sell your asinine (corporeal) ear and buy another ear, for the asinine ear will not apprehend this discourse.
گوش خر بفروش و دیگر گوش خر ** کاین سخن را در نیابد گوش خر
Go, behold the foxy tricks played by the hare; behold the cunning of the hare and how he overthrew the lion.
رو تو روبه بازی خرگوش بین ** مکر و شیر اندازی خرگوش بین
Knowledge is the seal of the kingdom of Solomon: the whole world is form, and knowledge is the spirit.1030
خاتم ملک سلیمان است علم ** جمله عالم صورت و جان است علم
Because of this virtue, the creatures of the seas and those of mountain and plain are helpless before man.
آدمی را زین هنر بیچاره گشت ** خلق دریاها و خلق کوه و دشت
Of him the pard and lion are afraid, like the mouse; from him the leviathan and the sea are in pallor and agitation.
زو پلنگ و شیر ترسان همچو موش ** زو نهنگ و بحر در صفرا و جوش
From him peri and demon took to the shores (sought refuge): each took abode in some hiding-place.
زو پری و دیو ساحلها گرفت ** هر یکی در جای پنهان جا گرفت
Man hath many a secret enemy: the cautious man is a wise one.
آدمی را دشمن پنهان بسی است ** آدمی با حذر عاقل کسی است
(There are) hidden creatures, evil and good: at every instant their blows are striking on the heart.1035
خلق پنهان زشتشان و خوبشان ** میزند در دل بهر دم کوبشان
If you go into the river to wash yourself, a thorn in the water inflicts a hurt upon you.
بهر غسل ار در روی در جویبار ** بر تو آسیبی زند در آب خار
Although the thorn is hidden low in the water, you know it is there, since it is pricking you.
گر چه پنهان خار در آب است پست ** چون که در تو میخلد دانی که هست
The pricks of (angelic) inspirations and (satanic) temptations are from thousands of beings, not (only) from one.
خار خار وحیها و وسوسه ** از هزاران کس بود نی یک کسه
Wait (patiently) for your (bodily) senses to be transmuted, so that you may see them (the hidden beings), and the difficulty may be solved,
باش تا حسهای تو مبدل شود ** تا ببینیشان و مشکل حل شود
So that (you may see) whose words you have rejected and whom you have made your captain.1040
تا سخنهای کیان رد کردهای ** تا کیان را سرور خود کردهای
How the beasts requested the hare to tell the secret of his thought.
باز طلبیدن نخجیران از خرگوش سر اندیشهی او را
Afterwards they said, “O nimble hare, communicate what is in thy apprehension.
بعد از آن گفتند کای خرگوش چست ** در میان آر آن چه در ادراک تست
O thou who hast grappled with a lion, declare the plan which thou hast thought of.
ای که با شیری تو در پیچیدهای ** باز گو رایی که اندیشیدهای
Counsel gives perception and understanding: the mind is helped by (other) minds.
مشورت ادراک و هشیاری دهد ** عقلها مر عقل را یاری دهد
The Prophet said, ‘O adviser, take counsel (with the trustworthy), for he whose counsel is sought is trusted.’”
گفت پیغمبر بکن ای رایزن ** مشورت کالمستشار موتمن
How the hare withheld the secret from them.
منع کردن خرگوش راز را از ایشان
He said, “One ought not to say forth every secret: sometimes the even number turns out to be odd, and sometimes the odd number to be even.”1045
گفت هر رازی نشاید باز گفت ** جفت طاق آید گهی گه طاق جفت